Typewriter carriage return device



Oct. 13, 1942. c. BOWEN 2,298,610

TYPEWRITER CARRIAGE RETURN DEVICE Filed May 29,'1941 IIHI 4mg mHllllllllilll H lllllhl Cu; 5:727 flamew y I j 5 z (Ittorneg PatentedOct. 13, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TYPEWR/ITER CARRIAGE RETURNDEVICE Culbert Bowen, Salt Lake City, Utah Application May 29, 194.1,Serial No. 395,841

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This invention relates to a typewriter carriage return device, itsprincipal objects being to provide:

First: A mechanism that is simple, durable, and not liable to get out oforder.

Second: A device that can be actuated by an operator without taking thehands away the keyboard.

Third: A device which enables a skilled operator to keep the handspoised at all times to strike the keys in the touch system of operation,thereby relieving the operator of considerable nervous stress.

Fourth: A device that may be built permanently into a machine or thatmay advantageously be attached to, or detached from, a machine, at theoption of an operator.

Fifth: A device that does not obstruct or encumber the usual manner ofoperating a typewriter.

Trained typists using the touch system of operation frequently find itvery disconcerting to shift the carriage by means of the line-spacelever in the ordinary way, since it makes necessary the re-poising ofthe hands each time a new line is begun.

By means of the invention, an operator is enabled to accomplish thereturn shift of the carriage independently of hand motion, using forexample, a foot to accomplish this task, thereby not distracting theattention in order to perform a merely perfunctory movement.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one embodiment of theinvention:

Fig. 1 represents in plan, a general outline of an ordinary typewritingmachine, the same being equipped with the device ofthe invention;

Fig. 2, a front elevation, and

Fig. 3, a side elevation.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral It designates a typewritingmachine of well known construction provided with the usual carriage I2on which is mounted the usual platen H and the usual carriage-returnline-space lever, or briefly, the line-space lever i 5. The carriage asusual, may be returned towards the right to a position indicated forexample, at l2-l, this position determining the beginning of the line asusual.

What is novel will now be described.

Mounted. on the frame structure of the typewriter machine is a conduit"3 which may advantageously consist of a tube made of metal or othersuitable material. The conduit may be provided with goosenecks I1 and I8, the former being fastened to the upper part of the machine from framein front of and just below the. platen l4, while the latter may befastened to the lower part, in this instance, at the right of themachine structure. The fastenings between the goosenecks and the framestructure may be semipermanent, consisting for example, of a screw orsmall bolt, not shown, while on the other hand, the goosenecks may bedetachably connected to the frame by means of removable clamps indi--cated at 19.

Engaging the line-space lever, for example, by means of a ring 20slipped over the upturned thumb portion I5-2, is a flexible connector 2|which passes through an entry 24 leading into the conduit I6, and theconnector, after passing through the curved portion of the conduit, mayadvantageously emerge through an exit 25 and extend downwardly to anysuitable actuating element for imparting return propelling energy to theflexible connector. It should be noted that the curved portion of theconduit, which is disposed intermediate the length of the conduit, ispreferably curved along an arc having a comparatively long radius.

Since an important object of the invention is to allow an operator toconcentrate his attention upon the keyboard of the machine and to keepthe hands constantly poised in the proper position for operating thetype keys, it is convenient to operate the carriage-return mechanism bymeans of foot power. For this purpose, a treadle 26 may advantageouslybe provided. In the present instance, the treadle is pivoted at 21 andhas the short lever arm 28 which terminates in a combined counterweightand stop 29. A

heel-piece 3U enables the operator to comfortably.

rest a foot 3! on the treadle. Normally, the treadle is in the position26 indicated in the drawing, but when the carriage is to be returned tothe beginning of a line, the operator presses the foot 3| forward,causing the long arm of the treadle to descend to a position. indicatedfor example,

by the dotted lines at Mi-l.

The treadle pivot 21 may be mounted in a stationary stand 32, the standbeing either fastened to the floor by any suitable means (not shown),

the back of the operator's foot is naturally caused to remain by gravityapproximately in the position shown, and where the stop 28 provides apositive support for the heel, the pivot 21 being located almostdirectly under the instep of the foot. The lower extremity of theflexible connector 2| may be connected to the long arm of the treadle26, as indicated in Fig. 3.

For convenience, the present drawing shows the machine located at theend of a table 34, but it is to be understood that the device isadaptable to being located on an ordinary typewriter desk or othersuitable support.

While the conduit I6 is preferably in the form of a tube, suitablyplated or otherwise finished to harmonize with the finish of anyparticular typewriter, it might sometimes be in the form of a channelopen at the top. The channel construction is not shown, since itrequires only mechani cal skill to make the substitution. The conduit I6is shown in a position where it does not interfere with the convenienceof operation of the machine, but it is obvious that it is notnecessarily restricted to that exact position.

It may be stated that in some kinds of typewriting, especiallyintermittent work, the device might not be of any particular utility,and in such cases, the ring 20 can easily be unhooked from the thumbgrip l-2, and the flexible connector be pulled through the conduit untilthe ring 20 comes to rest at the entry 24.

The particular utility of the device is conspicuous in the writing ofany lengthy documents, such as court records, specifications, and manyother kinds of voluminous writing.

The device in no way obstructs the normal operations of a typewriter,leaving the keyboard 35 free and open, but the portable form of thedevice makes it possible to easily and quickly remove it, shouldoccasions arise where this is desired. All that is necessary forremoving thedevice, is to loosen the clamps I9 and lift off the ring 20.

Obviously, means other than foot-power can be used to furnish thepropelling energy for returning the carriage to the beginning of a line,but in any event, as soon as the carriage is so returned, the connector2| is slacked as indicated at 2I2 in Fig. 3. The present instance showsthis to be accomplished by allowing the foot to come to its naturalrepose on the foot plate 38 forming a part of the treadle. Thus, thefoot is relaxed during the writing intervals, and the connector is drawntaut, as at 2 I only during the short intermittent periods of actuallypropelling the carriage on its return trips.

The precise length of the connector can be finally adjusted by movingthe stand or pedestal 32 slightly back or forth as the case may require,and the pedestal may hold such position by means of friction pads 31bearing on the floor, the pads being soft rubber or other suitablematerial.

It will be self-evident to a skilled person that extending along and infront of the said frame and terminating a curved portion depending overthe said frame at the side thereof which is opposite that from which thesaid line-space lever extends, the conduit further, having an entry infront of the said frame for the flexible connector and an exit leadingfrom the curved portion, for the flexible connector; and means operativeto propel the flexible connector in the direction of return of thecarriage.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination recited in claim 1,whereinthe conduit extremity which extends along and is disposed infront of the typewriter frame is attached to the upper part of thetypewriter frame at that side thereof from which the said line-spacelever extends, and wherein the other conduit extremity is attached tothe lower part of the typewriter frame at the opposite side thereof..

3. ll. can'iage-return device for a typewriting machine or the likehaving a carriage normally operable to move across the machinesubstantialnumerous changes can be made in the specific ly horizontallyfrom one side to the other side thereof, and adapted for quick return tothe said one side, the said carriage having attaching means securedthereto near that end thereof which corresponds to the said other sideof the machine, said carriage-return device comprising a conduit curvedintermediate its length and having a substantially straight end portion;means for maintaining said conduit in a fixed position relative to saidcarriage and to said machine with its said straight end portion disposedsubstantially horizontally in front of the path of travel of saidcarriage and extending along a part of the width of said machine at thesaid one side thereof, and with its opposite end portion extendingdownwardly along the said one side of the machine; a flexible connectorpassing through said conduit and having its upper end adapted tivelylong radius.

5. A carriage-return device for a typewriting machine or the likeaccording to claim 3 wherein said means for maintaining said conduit ina fixed position comprises a leg adapted to be attached to the upperpart of the said other side of said machine and a leg adapted to beattached to the lower part of the said one side of said machine.

6. A carriage-return device for a typewriting machine or the like havinga carriage normally operable to move across the machine substantiallyhorizontally from one side to the other side thereof, and adapted forquick return to the said one side, the said carriage having attachingmeans secured thereto near that end thereof which corresponds to thesaid other side of the machine, said carriage-retum device comprising atube, curved intermediate its length and having asubstantially straightportion adjacent one end of the curved portion, the ends of said tubebeing adapted for'securement to opposite sides of the machine, oneadjacent the top and the other adjacent the bottom of the machine, andsaid tube being formed such that, when attached to the machine, the saidstraight portion thereof occupies a fixed, substantially horizontalposition in front ofthe" path of' travel of the carriage and along thewidth of the machine, and an opposite portion extends downwardly alongthe said one side of the machine with the said curved portion occupyinga fixed position adjacent the said one side of the machine, said tubehaving'an opening formed intermediate the ends ofthe said straightportion thereof and an open mg .formed adjacent that end of the saidinter-v fmediate curved portion thereof which lies within that saidportion thereof which is adapted'to extend downwardly, whereby a conduitis formed for attachment to the said attaching means of; said carriage;and means attached to said flex-'- ible connector adjacent the lower endthereof for enabling said flexible connector to be pulled quickly.

. to the said one side; the combination of a con- 7. A carriage-returndevice" according to claim 6 wherein the curved intermediate portion ofthe conduit is curved along an are having a comparatively long radius 8.In a typewriting machine having aframe, and a platen-carrying carriagemounted in said frame near the top thereof for substantially horizontalsliding movement across said frame from one side to the other sidethereof during normal operation of said machine, and for quick returnduit, curved intermediate its length and having a substantially straightend portion; means maintaining said conduit in a fixed position relativeto said carriage with its said straight end 'portion disposedsubstantially horizontally in-front of the path of travel of saidcarriage and extending along a part of the width of said machine at thesaid one side thereof, and with its opposite end portion extendingdownwardly along the said one side of the machine; attaching meanssecured to that end of said carriage which corresponds to the said otherside of the machine; a flexible connector passing through said conduitand having its upper end attached to the said attaching means of saidcarriage; and means attached to said'flexible connector adjacent thelower end thereof for enabling said flexible con nector to be pulledquickly.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination recited in claim 8wherein'the curved intermediate portion of the conduit is curved alongan arc having a comparatively long radius.

10. In a typewriting machine, the combination recited in claim 8whereinsaid means for maintaining said conduit in a fixed position comprises aleg attached to the upper part of the said other side of said machineand a leg attached to the lower part of the said one side ofsaid'machiner CULBERT BOWEN.

